en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvette_(C4)
3 corrections found
In 1984 The convertible returned, as did higher performance engines, exemplified by the 375 hp (280 kW) LT5 found in the ZR1.
This sentence misdates two milestones: the Corvette convertible returned for 1986, and the LT5-powered ZR-1 arrived as a 1990 model, not in 1984.
Full reasoning
The timeline in this sentence is off by several years.
- Convertible return: Car and Driver's period road test of the 1986 Corvette convertible says it was making a comeback "after a decade-long absence" and notes that "for 1986, after a ten-year absence, a convertible version will once again be available." Since the last Corvette convertible before that was the 1975 model year, that places the return in 1986, not 1984.
- LT5 / ZR-1: Corvette Action Center's article on the LT5-powered ZR-1 states that the ZR-1 was the 1990-95 model, and specifically says "the Corvette ZR-1 wasn't introduced until later in 1989 as a 1990 model." That means the 375-hp LT5 ZR-1 was not part of the 1984 model year.
So the article's sentence incorrectly places both the convertible's return and the LT5 ZR-1 several years too early.
2 sources
- Tested: 1986 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Makes a Comeback
From the Archive: After a decade-long absence, Chevy's drop-top Corvette returns better than ever... For 1986, after a ten-year absence, a convertible version will once again be available.
- Lotus LT5 Engine Pushed Corvette ZR-1 Into Exotic Company - Corvette Action Center
That Corvette was the 1990-95 ZR-1... the Corvette ZR-1 wasn't introduced until later in 1989 as a 1990 model.
available January 1984
The 1984 C4 was not first available in January 1984. Production began on January 3, 1983, and customer deliveries began in March 1983.
Full reasoning
The parenthetical date is off by about a year.
Multiple Corvette history sources place the start of 1984 model-year C4 production on January 3, 1983, with customer deliveries beginning in March 1983. That means the 1984 Corvette was already on sale in 1983, so describing it as "available January 1984" is incorrect.
This also aligns with the article's own later production note that manual-transmission regular production did not arrive until January 1984—suggesting the parenthetical here likely confused the availability of the 1984 model with the later availability of regular-production manual-transmission 1984s.
2 sources
- 1983 Corvette
The C4 was able to meet the various 1984 safety and anti-smog regulations, so it became the first car available to do so when production started on January 3, 1983. The first 1984 C4 Corvettes were delivered to customers in March 1983.
- Building the Last Fourth-Generation (C4) Corvette - VIDEO
Production of the fourth-generation Corvette officially started on January 3, 1983 for the 1984 model year. Delivery of the C4 Corvettes to customers began in March, 1983.
chief Corvette designer Dave McLellan
Dave McLellan was Corvette's chief engineer, not its chief designer. The C4's design work is associated with designers such as Jerry Palmer under GM design leadership.
Full reasoning
This phrase assigns the wrong role to Dave McLellan.
The National Corvette Museum's Dave McLellan biography says that when Zora Arkus-Duntov retired in 1975, McLellan succeeded him as Corvette chief engineer. A separate National Corvette Museum biography for Jerry Palmer says Palmer was appointed Chief Designer in Chevrolet III Studio and began working on the design and aerodynamics that became the 1984 Corvette.
So McLellan absolutely led the Corvette program—but in an engineering capacity, not as the car's chief designer. Calling him "chief Corvette designer" is inaccurate.
2 sources
- Dave McLellan - National Corvette Museum
When Zora Arkus-Duntov retired as Corvette chief engineer in 1975, David R. McLellan was offered the job... In 1975, he succeeded Duntov as only the second chief engineer in Corvette history.
- Jerry Palmer - National Corvette Museum
In 1974, he was appointed as Chief Designer in the Chevrolet III Studio and began working on the design and advanced aerodynamics that became the 1984 Corvette.